How to Make Birthday Cups

This idea has been around for awhile-- so it's totally not my original idea-- but I thought I'd share what I bought and how I assembled my "birthday cups" last summer! Especially because I plan on making more this summer! (Please note this post contains some affiliate links for Amazon.)

Materials needed: 
1) Plastic coffee cups (with lids)-- I ordered mine from Amazon. It was a little pricey--but I really got enough to last 2 years! I've also heard that some coffee places will donate these cups to teachers for free-- so it may be worth inquiring! Just make sure it's the kind for iced coffee and has a hole in the lid! 

2) Shredded white crinkle paper-- I bought a few packs from my local Dollar Tree. You can still find this on Amazon though. You also don't have to use white, but I wanted mine to resemble whipped cream. 

3) Suckers-- I used different colored Tootsie Roll Pops (because a bag of just red cost a little more than I was willing to pay). You could easily use Blow Pops too. I bought my suckers in a large quantity from Walmart. 

4) Pencils-- I use pencils to look like the "straws"-- I found some cute rainbow ones at Walmart for very cheap! 

5) Whatever you want to use as a filler-- This is where you can be as creative (or not creative) as you please! Here are some ideas for your cups:

• Candy (if you are making these during the summer keep in mind that some candy lasts better than others over time-- like bubble gum)
• Erasers
• Bookmarks
• Emoji pencil sharpeners
• Emoji bracelets
• Glow bracelets
• Play-Doh
• Packet of Koolaid (or other drink mix)
• Stickers
• Brag tags-- My kids LOVED these last year (click the pic to see in my store)

6) Full page label paper (or sticker paper). I purchase mine from Amazon-- but I believe label paper is cheaper than sticker paper. You will need this type of paper to make the stickers for the cups! 

7)Labels for the cups-- I have created a set with 19 different labels-- here are a few closer up:

How to assemble:

1. Fill each cup with desired goodies/candy-- leave a little space at the top for the white crinkle paper!
2. Top goodies with white crinkle paper and put on cup lid
3. Use a hole punch to punch a hole in the cup lid (for the birthday pencil) and put pencil in-- I had to almost do 2 punches side by side to slide the pencil in more easily
4. Put a sucker in the top hole of the cup lid
5. Choose your birthday sticker label and put label paper in the printer (make sure you put it in the right way-- I had to put mine in upside down)
6. Print birthday cup stickers on the labels, cut out, peel, and stick onto cups

Now you are ready for the year ahead! Here is a quick post about how I keep track of student birthdays-- if you need help remembering! Plus it's a fun way to store birthday gifts! 

I hope you found this to be helpful! Best of luck in preparing for next year! 

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How to Manage Student Rewards

Hello everyone! I don't know about you-- but I LOVE rewarding students for good behavior, positive attitudes, effort, and other fine qualities all teachers admire! Today I want to share some ideas for managing the rewards you give to students! (Please note this post contains some affiliate links for Amazon)

First off, make sure your reward system matches your management style. For the past 5 years I've used ClassDojo in my room-- and I love it! Here is a post I wrote a few years ago about how I use it in conjunction with a classroom economy. Basically I hand out "Dojo Dollars" every Friday based on how many points my students have earned.

Then they can use those dollars to pay for prizes and rewards.

I had to decide what types of rewards to put on each poster-- you don't want your best rewards to be worth $5! Make them save for it! I usually switch the prizes up every year based on popularity or if I get tired of it... Here are the posters I use:

Sometimes I forget what the student has paid for-- so this year I am going to give them a coupon after they pay. Then they can trade the coupon in whenever they want to use it! Here is how I will manage my coupons:

1) I bought an "Iris Photo Keeper" from Amazon (you can also get them from Michaels and other craft places). I created labels, printed, and hot glued them to the boxes to help me keep track.

2) I had to figure out how to sort my coupons...

3) I decided to stick with the point system-- so I sorted the coupons by my point system:

Below you can see an example of some of the coupons that will go in the "10 point" box. The best coupons go in the "50 point" box!

I also love the holidays-- so I provide a "holiday tub" for students to purchase a prize from (I usually made this cost 5 Dojo Dollars) I store them in small sterilite tubs with latches (found also at Walmart, Big Lots, Target, etc.)

Then, whatever was leftover I could easily save for next year. Also, after each holiday be sure to stock up on the little toys, pencils, erasers, etc. that go on sale (Hobby Lobby, Mardels, Walmart, Target are excellent places to look) and save them for next year!

What types of rewards do you use with students? Click here or on the picture below to visit my reward coupons in my TPT store. The preview has a full list with explanations-- most of the rewards don't cost anything!

Download also includes black and white versions-- which look amazing on Astrobright paper! It's a great way to save on colored ink!

Lastly, I included the labels for a photo keeper-- as well as an editable version of the coupons-- so you can make your own!

Hope you have a blessed day!

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